Gyeongbokgung Palace

A symbol of Seoul, this beautiful palace was built in 1935 during the Joseon dynasty, and served as the home of the dynasty's Kings. I knew that I had to see it, and so I went the very first day that I was in Korea. The layout is quite complex, as the palace consists of many gates and courtyards. Each building is a historical and architectural masterpiece.

                     

Gyeongbokgung easy to get to, as it is relatively centralized and is in walking distance of a lot of the major hotels. The nearest subway station to the palace is Gyeongbokgung (Station #327 on Line 3).

Korean royal guard re-enactments are a popular stop outside the main gate, and offer a glimpse into the country's traditional culture. The royal changing of the guard ceremony is held every hour from 10:00 to 3:00. 

Once inside the gates, there are so many beautiful buildings to see on the grounds. One of my favorites was the Gyeonghoeru pavilion which is located on an artificial island in the middle of a uniquely rectangular lake. Also, be sure to stop in the National Folk museum which offers many displays, videos, and photographs focusing on the history of Korea. This museum is a great place to relax, and learn more about the palace.

Happy travels!

❤ Gwyn

Cute Cafés in Korea

I had heard about Korea's themed cafés for a while, and wanted to see if they were as awesome as everyone said they were. Upon arriving in Seoul, I was not disappointed. Themed cafés are pretty much everywhere in Korea, especially in busy shopping centers such as Myeong-dong and Insa-dong.  The country's prevalent "cute culture" inspires many themed cafés, such as the Hello Kitty Cafés and the many Cat Cafés that line every major street in Korea.


Hello Kitty Cafe in Myeong-dong

                                      

This place is Hello Kitty heaven! The outside is neon pink, with Hello Kitty's image plastered on the entryway. It's very hard to miss, even in Myeong-dong. Inside, I found everything to be Hello Kitty- themed, from the kitty tables to the kitty chairs, and even the wallpaper! Even though I mostly went for the location, the food was actually pretty good too. The coffee had Hello Kitty's face sprinkled on the top, and the cat-shaped cookies and mini-cakes were delicious. I think there are a few locations around Seoul; this one was in Myeong-dong. The Hello Kitty Café is definitely a must-see for any Sanrio fans traveling in Korea!


Cat Café in Myeong-dong 

       As a cat lover, I can honestly say that this is one of the most awesome places I have ever been, and I can't wait to go back to another one! These cat cafés are all over Korea, and I found this one on one of the busy side streets in Myeong-dong. Korean cat cafés can be easily spotted by their bright yellow signs and dancing cat mascot that advertises the business outside. After paying an entrance fee, café goers can get a drink and relax with the many cats that run freely around the cozy tearoom. The cats are all friendly, clean, and absolutely adorable. I literally spent two hours playing and cuddling with all of the unique kitties. There are some rules: No picking up the cats, no shoes, and no rough play, but other than that, the cats are yours for as long as you want! I went around 3pm, and the café was relatively busy. Even though this was the case, there were plenty of cats to go around. A cat café is a great way to spend a few hours when traveling in Seoul, and I highly recommend a visit to anyone.


Cat Café in Busan

I went to another cat café while visiting Busan and it was just as amazing as the one in Seoul. This one was a little bit smaller, and for most of my visit, I was the only person there. At this café, the lady at the counter gave me a few sticks of meat to attract the cats. I have never seen anything so effective. Moments after placing the sticks in my hands, a large fluffy mob surrounded me, begging for pats and food. It was so cute!


Happy travels!
❤ Gwyn